My life took an unexpected turn awhile ago (~2004)...into a dojo! I took my son to karate and found that I didn't much like being a spectator. I started at age 46. By 50, I was wearing a black belt. At 52, I added a 2nd stripe. The blog was started to help me learn my kata. On my 55th birthday, due to hip problems, I sadly quit the martial arts. I continue to look for sports outlets and wrestle with food, fitness, and health.

Kyoshi's Monday Night Jitsu Class

Guy charges you for a takedown and you learn to put up your fence into his neck, absorb the onslaught and when the attacker runs out of momentum, to respond with a knee into him.

Guys charges you and gets into a good position for a two leg take down. The defense is a sprawl pushing down hard on his head until he collapses. From there (north-south) rotate around one way, the other way, and then roll him over and choke him out.

Guy gets the take-down so as you go, you pull him into close guard with control over his head. From there, if he goes for the neck, you pull him back and then push his arm just to the side so you can get control around his head. Or if he pulls back to punch, you get your knees up and then your heels onto him.

Guy is in your closed guard and as he tries to punch, you oompah at 11:30 and sweep mounting him.

Once mounted, you learn to ride with your weight, capture the head, move his arm across his throat, keep the choke on, dismount low, then arch up for the choke-out.

From the bottom, you do a triangle with your legs. I lacked the flexibility to do this at all in one direction, just barely in the other.

When mounted, you pin and submit with an arm lock, both hands pinning one arm, then one hand weaving other, twist the wrist slightly, move it down towards him, then into a submission.

When you have some in closed guard, they move up to punch. You let him go getting distance by putting your knees up. Then you shoulder walk back, and get your heels into him.

He is up, you on your back and he tries to get in. You rotate and hold him off with your legs. When he tries to grab them, you rotate so he can't get a grip. He gets a grip and throws them sideways, gets into a sidemount on you. You hold him off with a fence, face him, crab out, throw the outside leg over his back to keep him down, the near leg gets a knee across in front of him. And you hold his head down. You then work free the leg across so you have him in closed guard.

Nineteen months ago I began my journey in Northern Kajukenbo Tum Pai at the age of 51. Watching my daughter, who was 9 at the time, in her Dragons class I found a love for the art. My husband has been very supportive, but my older children and many friends have questioned my sanity to begin learning a martial art with no previous experience at my age. Reading through your entries I have found them inspiring-Thank you and I look forward to more.

Just wanted to say "Thank You" for publishing your Blog. Reading over your past entries I find them inspiring. Eighteen months ago at the ago of 51(with no previous martial arts experience)I began my journey in Northern Kajukenbo Tum Pai. Although it has been very challenging at times, I have never regretted my decision. I currently train along with my 11 year old daughter-who out ranks me. My husband and older children are supportive, although they do wonder about their mom at times. I look forward to future entries.